Charity and the spirit of giving have been elevated to a new level following the recent Asian tsunami. After witnessing the horrific images of pain and suffering streaming steadily across their TV sets, more people than ever before have dipped deeper into their own pockets to offer needed relief to the survivors of this unprecedented tragedy.

Many parents are using the destruction delivered by the disaster as an opportunity to help children learn about charity and the importance of reaching out to others in their time of need. They have made generous family donations, often involving their children in picking out the charity, writing the check, and preparing and mailing the envelope. They have allowed their children to witness turning the pain and grief of unimaginable loss into a time of extending love and compassion to unknown people half way around the world.

Clearly the recent tsunami provides an opportune time to teach children about charity. But what if parents want lessons about charity to be more than a one time occurrence? What if they want the spirit of giving to be a way of life for their children? What if they want charity to become a habit?

To help your children acquire the habit of charity, consider implementing as a family the strategies which follow.

Periodically go through your closets rooting out clothes you haven’t worn in awhile, clothes to be given away for distribution to the needy. Encourage your children to do the same. Allow them to select which clothes or toys they wish to donate. The value of this activity is diminished greatly if you go through their closets for them without their presence. For maximum benefit, get your children involved in choosing the appropriate items. Take your children with you when you drop the items off at the charitable destination.

Regularly engage in a service oriented project. Rake the leaves of an elderly couple. Bake cookies for a serviceman or servicewoman. Bake bread and deliver it to the homeless feeding station in your community.

Give blood. Take your children with you so they see you as a model for giving. Talk to them about why you choose to donate blood and what you hope it will accomplish by doing so.

Set up birthday parties as a time for giving to others. At your child’s first school age birthday party, ask guests to bring a gift of a book (new or used) to be donated to a local charity. Talk to you son about the books he has and about children who have no books. Explain that one way to celebrate a birthday would be to give to those who have less. Involve the birthday boy in the decision of whether not to give the books to a woman’s shelter, a doctor’s office, or some other appropriate organization. When you deliver the books with your son, record it on camera.

At regular intervals, buy dog or cat food and take it to the humane society. Allow your children to spend some time with the recipients of the gift.

Build food baskets around the holidays and give to a needy family suggested by your church or school. Involve your children is selecting canned goods, fruit and other treats to include. Decorate the gift package and deliver it together, as a family.

Create a charity jar to be used by the family when allowances are distributed. Invite children to share some of their allowance with others through donating to the jar. As the jar fills decide as a family where to contribute the contents. You may choose to save a whale, buy gloves for needy children, or contribute to a cancer charity among others. Read about various charities on the internet and share this information with your children to help them make an informed decision.

Do things for the elderly they have trouble doing for themselves. Pick up sticks in your neighbors yard after a big windstorm. Mow the grass for grandma. Wash grandpa’s car. Clean their windows in the spring. Help them plant flowers.

Get on a regular service schedule at your church or synagogue. Sign up for a time to mow the grass and trim the bushes. Take your turn ushering and allow your child to assist.

By implementing some of the ideas above or others like them, you will be teaching your children that charity is not reserved only for emergencies. You will be helping them appreciate that reaching out to others in need is a way of life, rather than a moment in time when a catastrophic disaster occurs. Remember, while you are giving to others, you are giving your children important messages about your beliefs concerning the spirit of giving.

Chick Moorman and Thomas Haller are the authors of The 10 Commitments: Parenting with Purpose. They also publish a FREE email newsletter for parents and another for educators. Subscribe to them when you visit www.chickmoorman.com or www.thomashaller.com. Chick Moorman and Thomas Haller are two of the world's foremost authorities on raising responsible, caring, confident children.

As the Thanksgiving Holiday draws near this week and I reflect on the meaning of Thanksgiving and our family traditions I am reminded that THANKFULNESS takes the sting out of adversity. Let me explain. Do you ever feel like the more you try to obtain happiness the easier it can slip from your grasp? The key is THANKFULNESS. God instructs us to give thanks for everything. (Ephesians 5:20)Yet, there is an element of mystery in this matter of faith: We give God thanks (regardless of our feelings), and God gives us joy (regardless of our circumstances). (Psalm 118:1)This simple spiritual transaction of obedience - blind obedience at times - can seem irrational. To thank God for our hardships, doubts, and difficult circumstances can seem impossible. By being thankful, even though difficulties remain, we will be blessed as our thankfulness opens our hearts to God's presence in our lives. (Psalm 89:15) We may still be in the same place with the same set of hardships, but amazingly we will begin to see our circumstances from God's perspective and begin to find the rest we are seeking from our burdens in His love. (Matthew 11:29-30)

Challenge: Who is the one person who you need to pick up the phone and call to tell them how thankful you are for them? Who is the one person you need to write or e-mail? How will you demonstrate to them that you are thankful and grateful for all they do for you and what they mean to you?

5. You'll support Camps Connect and its programs and services for childrenCamps Connect rents its properties and facilities for groups to enjoy throughout the year and to support our mission of providing a summer camp experience for over 500 boys and girls each summer. Created as the joint venture between Catholic Youth Organization Camps and St. Vincent DePaul Camps, Camps Connect makes a valuable impact on the quality of life for the children and families we serve.

4. You'll be active at campAs concerns for our declining level of physical activity continue to climb in this culture of technological connectivity it is very important for children and adults alike to remain active. Physical activity can:

Control your weight.

Reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease.

Reduce your risk for type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.

Reduce your risk of some cancers.

Strengthen your bones and muscles.

Improve your mental health and mood.

When your group is at camp you have every chance to be physically active. There are games to be played, hikes to take, adventure climbing, swimming, and so much more to discover.

3. You can deepen your communication skillsThrough the community of a camp experience your group will practice many social skills. You'll build a sense of community by sharing a common living and dining space, as well as helping duties, and quality time. Throughout your time at camp you will experience cooperation with others, listen to others, and witness the value of honest communication.

2. You can unplug from technologyWhen you "unplug" at camp you'll receive the full benefits of a nature connection! How long have you gone without playing or working with technology? Do you ever think you need a break from it all? Camp offers a place where you and your group can come, be unplugged, and experience real people, real emotions, real activities, and face to face communication. You'll remember that there is a lot to do outside of technology and a lot of great ways to connect with people through nature!

1. You'll be able to renew, refresh, and restore yourself for a better life! During your time at camp your group will remember what its like to take a deep breath, find joy again, and feel the stress of life melt away. You can be renewed, refreshed, and restored to a better you!

At the end of August, CYO Boys Camp was the proud recipient of an Eagle Scout Project funded by the efforts of Alaric Gerstheimer-Seubert. Alaric, a Sacred Heart of Roseville Parish member, saw a special need at the Boys Camp and worked with his family, Boy Scout Troop 1419, and many supporters to raise funds and awareness for the project. Giving back to the community was a special component of his fundraising plan. Last February Alaric coordinated a Music and Comedy Concert to raise a majority of the funds needed for his Eagle Scout project. We'd like to especially thank Alaric for choosing the Birchgrove area at the Boys Camp to receive this gift. The project included creation of permanent benches (each has it's own engraving) along with an altar and ambo. We would also like to thank his parents, Troop 1491 based in Roseville, and Sacred Heart Parish and community members for your support and help with the project. We love it and can't wait for the boys to use it next summer!

The Journey -About Us

THE JOURNEY journals our Camps Connect story. Camps Connect is a summer camp for boys, girls, and co-ed programs, a family camp, retreat and conference facility, and outdoor education experience created from the joint venture between CatholicYouth Organization Camps and St. Vincent DePaul Camps.... and yet so much more!